August 09, 2009

Reporters Notebooks

Desmond Conner, Hartford Courant: Perhaps it's time for the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Big East to merge to form a 20-team superconference that would control the TV market on the entire East Coast.

Jon Solomon, Birmingham News: If your team is going to play a creampuff nonconference schedule, why doesn't it play in-state creampuffs?

Brandon Chatmon, Oklahoman: Mike Gundy has a $3 million buyout in his new contract. Oklahoma State has sold about 31,500 season tickets, roughly 8,000 less than last year's record total.

Greg Couch, Fanhouse: The NCAA needs a pair of big brass ones to put the hammer down on USC, but in this investigation showdown, the governing body doesn't have what it takes.

Alan Trubow, Austin American-Statesman: Texas' Mack Brown is not one of
the 59 Division I-A coaches who will vote in the coaches poll this
season and says he no longer plans to challenge the Bowl Championship Series system or the Big 12 tiebreaker.

Jeff Metcalfe, Arizona Republic: Arizona State receiver Brandon Smith suffered what could be a serious knee injury near the end of practice Saturday.

Patrick Magee, Hattiesburg American: Former Alabama defensive back Alonzo Lawrence said that he has decided to transfer to Southern Mississippi. Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban said Lawrence violated a team rule and was kicked off the team. "That's something that isn't true, but I'm not going to say anything about that," Lawrence said.

Kyle Ringo, Boulder Daily Camera: Colorado receiver Markques Simas has been suspended for the first two games because he violated team rules.

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